Tips For Preventing Laundry Damage in Your Washing Machine

It’s frustrating and stressful when clothing or linens come out of the wash ripped, discolored, or still covered in mystery stains. You may have to spend more time washing that new, now-discolored dress you planned to wear to the party this weekend or attempt to repair a ripped seam in your favorite work shirt. And you’ll probably want to investigate what went wrong in the cleaning process so you never find yourself in that situation again.

While the automatic washing machine is an invaluable assistant for cleaning laundry, it can occasionally cause unintended damage when not used properly.

Detrimental washing habits

Overcrowding the drum

It’s tempting to stuff every last sock and t-shirt into a single colossal load to minimize the total amount of loads you have to wash, but overloading the drum can take a major toll on your garments. Densely packed clothes lack the space to tumble and circulate freely, so they grind and rub against each other during the wash, which creates friction that can shred fabric and put small tears in items. An overloaded load of laundry can also prevent detergents from dispersing and rinsing out evenly, which can leave your garments looking and smelling less than clean.

A good rule of thumb is to only fill your washing machine drum about 3/4 full. This gives garments ample room to tumble without friction.

Mixing delicate and heavy items

Throwing your silky blouse in with jeans results in a tug-of-war match that only your delicate top will lose. Sturdy fabrics like denim or corduroy can easily snag and pull on softer materials, creating holes and runs. Metal attachments like zippers, buttons and rivets also pose a threat when washing a mix of fabric weights together. Always wash delicates separately from thick towels, heavy jeans or workout gear.

Leaving objects in pockets

It’s incredibly easy to toss dirty clothes straight in the machine without checking the pockets first. Allowing stray pens, tissues, tools or coins into the wash can lead to punctures, tears and other damage as objects bang around inside the drum. Try to make it a habit to always empty pockets before washing to avoid an unpleasant surprise.

Using too much detergent

You might think being more generous with your detergent means better cleaning power, but too much soap can get trapped in the fabric and fail to rinse away. As a result, clothes can feel stiff and crunchy from the lingering detergent residue. Make sure to follow the detergent directions and use the recommended amount (or less) based on your load size and local water hardness.

Leaving wet laundry in the washing machine

Don’t let your wet laundry remain in the machine for hours and become a breeding ground for mildew, mold and bacteria. Warm, damp clothes that are left crammed together can cause the fabric to develop foul smells, stains and damage. Always quickly remove washed clothes and dry them thoroughly to prevent microbial growth.

Using excessive bleach

A measured splash of bleach can work wonders on stains and disinfecting, but too much can harm fabrics. Overzealous chlorine bleaching weakens and deteriorates fabric fibers over time. Try to be frugal with bleach and make sure to dilute it properly before use.

Not properly sorting laundry

Few of us meticulously sort our laundry into perfect loads, but improperly mixed items can lead to color bleeding, staining, fading and other damage. Always wash bright colors, darks, whites and delicates in their own properly sorted batches.

Failing to maintain the machine

A dirty washing machine spreads grime onto each new load of clothes. Letting grease, mildew and detergent accumulate in the appliance can cause “clean” laundry to come out dingy and stained. Make sure to thoroughly and regularly clean the machine while wiping down doors and seals to prevent further issues.

Enjoy clean clothes without damage

We hope this guide helps you identify potential pitfalls in your laundry routine so you can protect your garments from shredding, stains, shrinking and worse in the washing machine. By giving some extra thought to loading and sorting garments while taking time to care for your washing machine, you’ll reap the benefit of fresh, damage-free clothes instead of gathering a pile of rags.

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